Session 5

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Ecosystem level diversity and Concept of Biodiversity hotspots

Ecological/Ecosystem Diversity: Each ecosystem consists of organisms from many different


species, living together in a region connected by the flow of energy and nutrients.

An ecosystem, therefore, is a collection of living components, like microbes, plants, animals,


fungi, etc. and non-living components, like climate, matter and energy that are connected by
energy flow.

Ecological diversity refers to the ‘variability among the species of plants and animals living
together and connected by flow of energy and cycling of nutrients in different ecosystems or
ecological complexes.

It also includes variability within the same species and variability among the different species of
plants, animals and microorganisms of an ecosystem.

Thus, it pertains to the richness of flora, fauna and microorganisms with in an ecosystem or biotic
community.

The earth has a number of ecosystems like grasslands, forests, semi arid deserts, marine,
freshwater, wetland, swamp, marshlands etc. each one having its distinct floral, faunal and
microbial assemblages.

Ecological diversity represents an intricate network of different species present in local


ecosystems and the dynamic interaction among them. The ecological diversity is of great
significance that has developed and evolved over millions of years through interactions among
the various species within an ecosystem.

Measuring Biodiversity: There are various mathematical ways of measuring biodiversity, which
calculate the number of species diversity in different regions. The measure of diversity of species
is also known as species richness.

1. Alpha diversity (a-diversity or diversity within a community): It is the diversity of organism,


within a community i.e., the number of species in the given community or habitat.
2. Beta diversity (β diversity or diversity between community): It is the diversity observed due
to species composition of communities along altitudinal gradient or moisture gradient
or any other environmental gradient. It occurs due to replacement of species. More
dissimilarities between species there will be more beta diversity.
3. Gamma diversity (γ-diversity or diversity among communities): It refers to diversity of
organisms among communities in the geographical regions.

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Hot Spot of Biodiversity: Hot spots are areas with high density of biodiversity or mega
diversity. Hot spots are generally determined based on four factors:

1. Number of species/species diversity


2. Degree of endemism (species restricted to a particular area or region)
3. Degree of threat to the habitat due to its degradation and fragmentation
4. Degree of exploitation

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region that is both a significant reservoir of biodiversity


and is threatened with destruction.

The term biodiversity hotspot specifically refers to 25 biologically rich areas around the world
that have lost at least 70 percent of their original habitat.

The remaining natural habitat in these biodiversity hotspots amounts to just 1.4 percent of the
land surface of the planet, yet supports nearly 60 percent of the world's plant, bird, mammal,
reptile, and amphibian species.

The number of hot spots in the world is 34 covering an area less than 2% of land surface with
about 20% of human population living there. There are 15 hot spots in tropical forests, 5 in
Mediterranean type forests and 9 in island.

India has 2 hot spots – India-Burma, Himalaya and Western Ghats – Sri Lanka. India is
considered as a country of mega-diversity with 2.4% of land area and having 8.1% of global
diversity.

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References:
1. Adam Sedgwick - A Students Text Book of Zoology, Low Price Publications, Delhi, Vol. I, II
& Vol. III, 1990.
2. Agarwal V.K. – Zoology for Degree Students: Non-Chordata, S. Chand & Company, 2017.
3. Barnes R. D. - Invertebrate Zoology, Saunders College, Philadelphia, 1980.
4. Dhami & Dhami - Invertebrate Zoology, R. Chand & Co., 2009.
5. Ekambaranatha Ayyar - A Manual of Zoology Vol. I, Part I & II, S. Vishwanathan Pvt. Ltd.,
1982.
6. Hyman, L. H. - The Invertebrates - Vols. I to IV, Mc. Graw Hill, 1940.
7. Jordan & Verma - Invertebrate Zoology, S. Chand & Company, New Delhi, 2013.
8. Kotpal - Modem Text Book of Invertebrates, Rastogi Publications, Meerut, 2017.
9. Kotpal - Protozoa to Echinodermata (Phylum Series), Rastogi Publications, Meerut, 2017.
10. M. Prakash & C. K. Arora - Laboratory Animals, Anmol Publications, New Delhi, 1998.
11. P.S. Verma - A Manual of Practical Zoology – Invertebrates, S. Chand & Co., 2013.
12. S.S. Lal- A Text book of Practical Zoology – Invertebrates, Rastogi Publications, 2016.
13. T. Jeffery Parker, William A. Haswell. A Text Book of Zoology, Low Price Publications,
Delhi, Vol. I & II, 1990.

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